Reduce NEET PG 2024 cut-off marks to fill vacant PG seats: Doctors’ body urges health ministry

NEW DELHI: In view of the vacant postgraduate (PG) seats following the conclusion of the second round of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET PG) counseling 2024 for All India Quota (AIQ) seats for the academic year 2024, a doctors’ association has demanded reduction in NEET PG 2024 cut-off.

In a letter addressed to health minister JP Nadda, the Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) highlighted that despite the concerted efforts of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and other agencies, a significant number of PG seats remain unfilled across the country.

This situation, according to IMA-JDN, is a grave concern, as unfilled seats result in the underutilization of valuable educational resources and hinder the growth of India's medical workforce. The association expressed its worry that this issue could further exacerbate the existing shortage of specialists, thus affecting the quality of healthcare services in the country.

In response, IMA-JDN has urged the government and concerned authorities to reduce the cut-off marks for NEET PG 2024. The association believes that such a move would offer eligible and competent candidates another opportunity to secure these vacant seats, ultimately strengthening India’s healthcare delivery system.

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Why lower NEET PG cut-off 2024?

The IMA-JDN highlighted several benefits of reducing the NEET PG cut-off marks:

• Optimal Utilization of Medical Seats: Lowering the cut-off would ensure that available seats are filled and valuable resources are not wasted.
• Providing Aspirants a Second Chance: The reduction would allow more candidates to pursue their career aspirations, fostering talent development within the medical field.
• Addressing the Specialist Shortage: With a reduction in cut-off marks, the gap between the growing demand for healthcare specialists and the availability of qualified professionals could be alleviated.

The association expressed hope that the concerned authorities will take prompt action to address this issue, ensuring a positive outcome that benefits both the medical community and the nation at large.